True strawberry quartz is clear or milky quartz with iron oxide inclusions that give the mineral the look of a strawberry with its seeds. It is not a common mineral, especially when the quartz is clear, and most of that material goes to cabachons for jewelry. In this rosary, the Pater beads are genuine strawberry quartz (milky quartz with the hematite inclusions). The Aves are well crafted man made glass.

Strawberry quartz, real or man made, is so attractive! The little red flecks glisten like mica, and call to mind the Holy Blood of Christ. The rich pink color is rosy—perfect for a rosary honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe!

This rosary uses a slim, Spanish-style cast red bronze crucifix. It’s a graceful little crucifix, with the body of Christ turned on the cross to an oblique angle. In contrast, the rosary center is a charming openwork over-sized Our Lady of Guadalupe reproduction, also cast in solid red bronze. So nice in a very portable 7mm size!